Trip mechanism for knitting-machine stop motions



March 27, 1928.

F. CRAWFORD, SR

TRIP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINE STOP MOTIONS Filed Feb. 1 .1926

firm/g 5 Z25 I 9 4 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

l T E D S T FRANK CRAWFORD, 53., OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIG-NOBTO CRAWFORD on NEW JERSEY.

'ni nnrhcrunrne oonranY, on NEW isnnn'swic New JERSEY, A CORPORATIONApplication filed February 18, 1926. Serial No. 89,136.

This invention relates to trip mechanism for knitting machine stopmotions, and more particularly to that class of knitting machineonfwhich circular knit hosiery is produced. In a knitting machine ofthis type, when the heel and toe portions of the stocking are beingknit, it is desirable to have the thread running free through the threadguides and under little or no tension.

In accordance with the principles of my invention, theonly tension onthe thread is that applied by the drop wire of the stop motion. The dropwire. in this particular instance, is constructed of comparatively finegage steel wire of inconsequental weight.

The principal object of my invention is to provide atrip arm for thestop motion of a knitting machine which shall be of suflic ent weight toefliciently operate the stop motion, under the control of the drop wireof the stop motion and at the same time reduce the tension applied tothe knitting thread, by the drop wire, to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my invention with one of the coverplates removed.

Fig. 2 is a faceview, with the front cover removed.

Fig.8 is a rear view, partly in section, with the rear cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the drop wire'and its associated pivotelement.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stop motion trip 'arm.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch controlled by the drop wire.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the intermediate lever associated withthe drop arm shown in Fig. -5.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 is a thread guide arm, forming partof a stop motion of'a knitting machine, and provided with a supportin'gplate 2.positioned at right angles "and extending vertically from thearm 1. The plate 2 is .providedwith a for wardly extending horizontallydisposed bracket 3 having a reduced vertically extending arm 4 which isprovided with a wing 5 extending rearwardly and parallel to the bracket8. In the bracket 3 and the wing 5,

I provide the usual porcelain thread eyes .6 and 7 respectively.

Between the bread eyes 6 and 7, I position a hooked portion 9 of a dropwire 8, said drop fwire being provided with a pivot element 10 journaledin a bearing 11 formed on the plate 2. The pivot element 10 is providedwith a downwardly projecting arm 12 adapted to-engage the lower end: ofa latch member 13 which is pivoted at 1& to a bracket 15 secured to theplate 2. v

The latch member 13 is provided with a shoulder 16 adapted tobeengaged'by a pro jection 17 on an intermediate lever 18 which is pivotedat 19 to the bracket 15. The inter mediate lever 18 is provided-with aslot 2O into which projects apin21, securedin a weight 22 on the outerend of atrip arm 28. The trip arm 23 is secured to the outer'end ofatrip rod or shaft 24 which. is journaled in bearings 25 formedin thearm 1, and is adapted to trip the stop motion of the knitting machine(not shown)." i

As shown in the drawings, the intermediate" lever 18 is.pivoted'adjacentone facelof the plate 2, and the weight 22 occupies aposition adjacent the opposite face of the plate 2, a slot'2'6, beingprovided in the plate 2 for the accommodation of the pin 21, when thearm 23 moves about the pivotal center of the shaft 24. i i

' In operation, and as shown in Fig. 1, a thread X passes through theeyes 6 and 7, and is engaged, intermediate the two said eyes, by thehook portion 9 of the drop wire 8. The arm 23 is supported in itsinoperative position, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, by means of the projection17 of the arm 18 being engaged by the shoulder 16 of the latch member13. The arm 12 of the drop wire 8 is adapted to lie in contact with thelower portion of the latch arm 13.

Under normal operating conditions, the

thread X passes through the eyes 6 and 7 under yery slight tension. Thethread is lightly engaged by the hook member 9, and thedrop wire8 isthereby held in aninoperative verticalposition and being ofcomparatively fine wire and of very little weight little orno tension isapplied to the thread by the drop wire.

Should the thread X drop wire 8 is immediately released. Its

pivot element 10 thereby causing thearm become broken, the

thereof to engage and move the latch member 13 on its pivot 14.

The movement of the latch member 13 causes the shoulder 16 thereof torelease the projection 17 of the arm 18, permitting said arm to moveabout its pivotal center 19. The movement of the arm 18, through theslot 20 and pin 21, permits the weight 22 to fall, moving in a pathconcentric with the center of the shaft 24:, which is turned thereby.The turning of the shaft 24 trips the stop motion (not shown) causingtheknitting machine to which it is attachedto be stopped.

' From. the above description, it will be apparent that I provide athread guide and tripping mechanism for a stop motion in which little orno tension is applied to theknitting thread passing tl'ieret-hrough.However, should the thread break, the mechanism is released and theknitting machine stopped immediately. Y

. To prevent the yarn fly and other dust from accumulatingon theelements forming my invention I provide flanged cover plates 30 and 31which. are secured to the front and rear faces respectively of thesupporting plate 2, in any suitable manner. The front cover plate 30 isapertured at 32 and 33 for the free movement of the drop wire 8 and thetrip arm 23 respectively. 7

While I have shown'but one preferred embodiment of my invention, it willbe apparent that numerous modifications to the mechanism are possiblewithout departing from the essential features of my invention,therefore, the illustration is not to be construed as limiting theinvention to the precise construc tion shown, and I desirethat only suchlimitations ,be placed thereon as may be prescribed by the appendedclaims or necessitated by the prior art of record.

What I claim is: p

1. In trip mechanism for knitting machine stop motions, the combinationof a pivoted weighted arm adapted to trip said stop motion; a pivoteddrop wire of inconsequential weight supported by the knitting threadrunning in the knitting machine; a projection on said weighted trip arm;a pivoted intermediate lever engaging said projection; a latch engagingsaid intermediate lever; and a projection on said drop wire adapted toengage said latch and thereby release said trip arm when said drop wireis permitted to rotate as by breakage of said thread. I j

2. In trip mechanism for knitting machine stop motions, the combinationof a supporting element; aweighted trip arm pivotedon said support; adrop wire pivoted on said support and adapted to be held in aninoperative position by ,a knitting thread running in the knittingmachine; an intermediate lever pivoted on said support; a projection onsaid weighted trip arm normally occupying a position immediatelyadjacent the pivot of and engaged by said intermediate lever; a latchpivoted on said support and normally engaging the free end of saidintermediate lever; and an arm projecting from the pivot element of saiddrop wire adapted to engage and release said latch whereby said trip armis released when the said'drop wire is permitted to rotate as bybreakage of said thread.

3. In trip mechanism for j knitting machine stop motions, thecombination of a supporting element; a weighted trip arm pivoted on saidsupport; a drop wire pivoted on said support and adapted to be held inan inoperative position by a knitting thread running in the knittingmachine; a longitudinally slotted intermediate lever pivoted on saidsupport; a projection on said weighted trip arm normally occupying aposition immediately adjacent the pivot 01": said intermediate lever andextending into the slot thereof; a latch normally'engaging the free endof said intermediate lever; and an arm projecting from the pivot elementof said drop wire adapted to engage and'release said latch whereby saidtrip arm is released when the said drop wire is permitted to rotate asby breakage of said thread.

1. In trip mechanism for knitting machine stop motions, the combinationof a supporting arm; a supporting plate secured to said arm; a stopmotion trip rod journaled in said arm; a weighted trip arm secured tosaid rod;a drop wire pivoted to said sup porting plate; a latch pivotedto said supporting plate; an intermediate lever pivoted to saidsupporting plate and adapted to be engaged'by said latch; a slot in'said supporting plate; a pin on said weighted trip arm, passlng throughsaid slot and co-operativelyengaging said intermediate lever, and anoperating arm on the drop wire pivot element for engaging the latch, forsubsequent actuation of the said elements when the knitting thread ofsaid machine breaks.

5. In trip mechanism for knitting machine stop motions, the combinationof a supporting arm; a supporting platesecured thereto;

a bracket secured to sai'dsupporting plate;

a wing on saidbracket; a thread eye in said bracket; a thread eye insaid wing aligned with the thread eye in said bracket; a drop wirepivoted to said supporting plate and extending into a positionintermediate said thread eyes, for engagement with a thread passingtherethroiigh'; a weighted trip arm pivoted to said supporting arm andadapted to be controlled by said drop wire; and means intermediate saiddrop wire and said weightedtrip arm, operable by said drop wire, foreffecting the actuation of said trip FRANK CRAWFORD, sR.

